Gameday Thread: Bears Head To Florida For Midweek Matchup against UCF

ORLANDO – Baylor women’s basketball (16-5, 6-2) will aim to get back in the win column with a road matchup against the UCF Knights (7-11, 0-8). Tipoff from Addition Financial Arena is slated for Wednesday, Jan. 26, at 6 p.m. CT and will be streamed on ESPN+.

• Massey Prediction: Baylor 77, UCF 60
• Baylor Massey Rating: No. 17
• UCF Massey Rating: No. 127

Coaches

Baylor (Nicki Collen): 86-33 Record; 3 NCAA Tournaments; Sweet 16

UCF (Sytia Messer): 87-84 Record

Baylor Starters

• Guard Jada Walker (5’7, Sr.): 11.4 PPG, 3 RPG, 5.5 APG, 44% FG, 39% 3-PT, 77% FT
• Guard Sarah Andrews (5’6, 5Sr.): 11.7 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 5 APG, 37% FG, 36% 3-PT, 57% FT
• Forward Darianna Littlepage-Buggs (6’1, Jr.): 13.8 PPG, 10.3 RPG, 2.1 APG, 50% FG, 72% FT
• Forward Bella Fontleroy (6’0, Jr.): 8.6 PPG, 6 RPG, 36% FG, 28% 3-PT, 58% FT
• Center Aaronette Vonleh (6’3, Sr.): 13.4 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 59% FG, 61% FT

Baylor Bench

• Guard Yaya Felder (5’8, Sr.): 10.9 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 2.6 APG, 47% FG, 39% 3-PT, 73% FT
• Guard Aliyah Matharu (5’7, Sr.): 6.4 PPG, 2.4 RPG, 44% FG, 35% 3-PT, 55% FT
• Forward Kyla Abraham (6’3, Jr.): 2.3 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 44% FG, 40% FT
• Forward Kayla Nelms (6’1, Fr.): 2.8 PPG, 2.4 RPG, 45% FG, 23% 3-PT

UCF Starters

• *Guard Kaitlin Peterson (5’9, Sr.): 20.7 PPG, 2.1 RPG, 2.1 APG, 41% FG, 30% 3-PT, 75% FT
• Guard Ally Stedman (5’9, Sr.): 4.4 PPG, 1.1 RPG, 1.3 APG, 32% FG, 35% 3-PT, 67% FT
• *Guard Emely Rodriguez (6’0, Fr.): 11.1 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 1.2 APG, 40% FG, 29% 3-PT, 73% FT
• Forward Achol Akot (6’1, So.): 6.5 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 2.3 APG, 44% FG, 71% FT
• Center Khyala Ngodu (6’3, So.): 6 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 3.5 BPG, 51% FG, 63% FT

*questionable with injury*

UCF Bench

• Guard Nevaeh Brown (5’9, Sr.): 6.7 PPG, 2.6 RPG, 2.8 APG, 36% FG, 33% 3-PT, 63% FT
• Guard Lucie Castagne (5’6, Sr.): 1.1 PPG, 1.1 APG, 37% FG, 36% 3-PT, 50% FT
• Forward Adeang Ring (6’5, Fr.): 3.7 PPG, 2 RPG, 44% FG, 60% FT
• Forward Mahogany Chandler-Roberts (6’2, Fr.): 1.6 PPG, 1.9 RPG, 36% FG, 60% FT

UCF Notable Opponents

• No. 10 TCU (90-81 Loss)
• No. 24 Oklahoma State (72-58 Loss)
• Iowa State (90-56 Loss)

Top Quotes

Head coach Nicki Collen on losing to No. 9 TCU over the weekend:

• “I never thought there was a point where we didn’t play hard. We didn’t always play smart, make the right decisions or execute as well as we could have. I thought we executed down the stretch, but we have to play that way from the tip. We have to execute at both ends a little better coming out of the gate, particularly in the first and the third [quarters], so we don’t put ourselves in those situations.”

Head coach Nicki Collen on center Aaronette Vonleh (Sr.) needing to play better:

• “We have to get more out of Netty [Vonleh], regardless of opponent. We need more rebounding, and I think Sedona [Prince] is a hard player to play against; Lauren Betts is a hard player to play against. But we have to find ways to roll behind them, cut behind them and not necessarily score on post-ups but [score] on the move better than we did so that we can neutralize [opposing centers]. We weren’t able to neutralize those positions over the last two games.”

Head coach Nicki Collen on what Aliyah Matharu (Sr.) brought to the table against No. 9 TCU:

• “I liked what Aliyah [Matharu] brought to the table. I thought that was a big jump for her. Not only offensive productivity but also getting up and picking up Hailey Van Lith, making plays and getting on the offensive glass. I thought she played with good energy and gave us another playmaker out there. I thought that was a big positive. “